What the World Needs Now...

...is another Barlow Girl! We got to go home this weekend to meet Samantha Rose Barlow and she is the cutest thing ever! She is only 12 days old as of today and she is perfect. I never think that newborns are that cute, but this one is the exception. We loved loved loved hanging out with our new little spirit and can't wait to go visit next month to see her again. It is fun to see Mike and Chel be new parents-they are naturals! Now, we just have to see what we can do from far away to become her favorite Aunties:)

Sister, St. George, Squished Lizard and Sammie

I decided that there were a few things that happenings in June that I haven't shared yet, so here are some fun things we did:

1. Went to Salt Lake to celebrate Laura's bday with my Mom and stayed at the mansion. We had a ton of fun watching random movies like "Honeymoon in Vegas" and pretty much anything on the Lifetime channel, at ribs at the Porcupine Grill and made the favorite enchiladas. It was an all around fun and well rested weekend.

2. Went to St George with my office for a conference of all of the Admissions, Recruiting and Registrar's offices in the state of Utah. It was my first trip to the southern part of the State, so I was pretty in awe of the beautiful surroundings. We got to go to some good seminars, do some good shopping (I got 5 shirts and 2 pairs of flats for $35.00), and got to see the Temple. We even got to see how the University's mini-van would handle in the torrential downpour that was the weather on the ride home. I have to say it handled like a champ! Best part of the trip: it was free and we had a blast being out of the office for a few days!

3. Whilst in St George, I learned something that I had already suspected, but had never seen before: they have lizards everywhere! We saw one that was roadkill in the parking lot and it was huge! It was at least as big as two of my flip-flops with a little more tail to spare...one girl saw it and ran away. I just took a picture of it on my phone and sent it to all of my friends that would appreciate it! Yuck! I added it to the side of the blog, so you can check it out. It was cool.

4. The best part of the month-we got a new neice in our family! Samantha Rose Barlow entered the world on June 27 weighing in at 7 lbs 1 oz and stretching to 21 inches. I have only seen pictures so far, but from what I can tell, she is a knock-out! My parents are gushing about how perfect she is and I totally believe them. Now her Aunties that are the farthest away have to meet her...which we will do over the 4th of July weekend at our immediate family reunion. Looks like she arrived just in time to meet everyone. I will post more when I have pictures of her with her favorite curly-haired aunt:)

Flashback Friday

So, one of my students who has rockin' 80's hair (Yeah, he's 42 and has feathered hair that goes down his back and a faded denim shirt unbuttoned to reveal a very hairy chest with a gold chain nestled among the dark hair) just came in and after some reflection of the Awesome 80's I figured I would share that at one time I too had a love of the spandex pants. Although I still have the big hair-which is probably going to be with me for a long time, so I have learned to love it-this picture also shows the "Sun-In" highlights which are long gone. And yes, that is a wave of hair atop my forehead with the greatest bangs ever. Some of my favorite things about the '80's: Neon, leggings, LA Gear shoes, Pop Rocks, all things Oakland A's (this is when the greatest years of my lifetime occured with Jose, Mark and Walt), TV shows like Misfits in Science, The Incredible Hulk, Wonder Woman and Scooby Doo, movies like Flight of the Navigator, Mannequin, and Pee Wee's Big Adventure and of course the music! Depeche Mode, Bon Jovi, The B52's and Pat Benatar made every youth dance the most rockin place ever!
While the days of big hair, rubber bracelets, pegged pants, shirt clips and giant bangs are over, I will always look back on all of those things with fondness. And a little thankful prayer in my heart that not all of it was captured on camera!

The Wonder that is Steve

I know that I am a little late for Father's Day, but I would like to share why it is that my Dad is the greatest! Here are a few of the reasons why:

1. He has the magic touch in more ways than one. He can take a sliver out without it hurting. He can fix anything with gorilla snot glue that wouldn't otherwise stick. He can start the unstartable car. He can pack up a house in record time and nothing gets broken. He can listen when it feels like your world is going to fall apart and bring it all back into perspective. He can make you feel like he is your biggest fan even when you are in hot water. He can calm nerves just by being in the room when you are giving a talk, performance or recital.
2. He instilled in his girls a love of sports. Many would think that being in a family where there are more females than males would make for lots of ballet and playing with dolls. Well, some of the most fun memories that I have of growing up Barlow is going to many many A's games, watching football with Dad on the big screen and most of all-the best years of softball when he was my coach. I still have my mitt in the Jeep at all times just so I can play whenever the occasion allows and I get that from my Dad.
3. He is the knower of all things when it comes to cars. I still discuss all things related to my vehicle with him, because I know that he will know the answer. We all have a special love and appreciation when it comes to vehicles...especially the classic ones!
4. He is an incredible example to all who are around him of how to be a worthy Priesthood holder and a worthy member of the church. All growing up, he was off to meetings or to help someone in need and never complained. Not once.

So, here are just a few of the many examples as to why my Dad is the greatest. Happy Father's Day, Dad and thanks for everything you do for me and for our family. You are an incredible example of a husband, father, leader, business man, and most importantly, friend. I love you and I am proud to call you my Dad.

The Call of the Wyoming Wild

A few years ago, I moved into a new apartment at Maple Valley and little did I know that life as I knew it would be changed forever. I met the two boys across the hall, Mikol and Joe, and we became fast friends. We were always together and no matter what we were doing, whether we were playing sports, hot tubbing, watching movies, cooking dinner together, eating hotwings, bowling, or tubing down Beaver Mountain in a plastic swimming pool, we were definitely enjoying ourselves. Well, now everything will be changed because Mikol has abandoned us for the Call of the Wyoming Wild to go to Grad School in Laramie. While I am proud of him for taking this opportunity, I have quickly realized that a little piece of my heart will now be in Wyoming. So, here are a few of the many highlights of why we will always be friends:

• The infamous road trip to Cali for Spring Break: staying in Reno, getting lost on the way to Ptown, Jane telling Mikol his jokes just aren't funny, driving all around the Bay Area in the Green Jeep, Flat Joe, the Oakland Temple trips, waiters, Alcatraz, riding the Trolley, the beach and a Wyoming boy meets the undertow, and when someone drove the Stratus like a racecar- having to pull over because someone else was turning green and needed to take a closer look at Truckee. Although there are many other highlights from this trip, the most fun was when we went to my Dad's car store and got to play in all of the fun cars.


• There was the time that Mikol decided to teach me how to ski and I trusted him to not let me be hauled off in an ambulance. He did great and it even turned into a pretty good Sunday School story about someone who's name starts with an A and ends in nneBarlow. And an extra bonus: I am now a good skiier! Seriously!


• No matter what time day or night, I always knew that I could call Mikol for anything (whether we WERE friends or not). He fixed the Jeep, hung things on the wall, moved anything heavy, was always up for driving, didn't pout too much when I would beat him at bowling, and most importantly knows most of my secrets and never tells.

So, while I will be a little mad at Wyoming because it is too far away from me, I am always glad when my favorites are happy and doing what is best for them. And now it will be the start of a new era, although nothing will ever replace the combination of a Wyoming-ite, Californi-anne and South Korean!

The Wonder that is Laura

It is Laura's Birthday on the 28th so to honor her, I won't say how old she is, but I will just randomly post 25 things that we all love about her...

1. She has the most beautiful Pantene shiny hair ever. It always looks good and coming from the crazy curly haired girl, there is a lot of jealousy.

2. You can't say anything about a Barlow girl without mentioning the laugh. We come from a long line of great laughers and Laura fits right in.

3. For a little girl, she sure rocks the big car. First it was a Jeep Cherokee, now it is Lois the Montero. If you want to see something funny, watch her try and wash it or scrape off the snow from the windshield. She still makes it look good...

4. She is funny and funny things happen to her. Story time is always good when she is around.

5. There are still people in the world who know her only as Starfish. Not everyone could carry off a name like that with style, but she really does.

6. She would do anything for anyone.

7. She is smart-she graduated fast and with 2 majors: Political Science and History.

8. She is always off on a cool adventure. Check out her blog and you will see recounting of her cruise to the Bahamas and most recent 4-wheeling excursion in Utah.

9. She can throw the best parties ever. There was a Chinese New Year party that people still talk about and I am sure that the mansion will quickly become legendary.

10. She has great taste in music. She is always up on the newest artists but still has a taste for the classic 80's butt rock band.

11. Going to an A's game with her is truly an experience. Most of the time it involves being seen on the jumbotron or clearing out the section around us because people can't handle the fan-atics.

12. She has a great taste in clothes. She always looks put together and ready for anything. She would never wear a wife-beater tank top, suspenders and a hat to go dancing. Never.

13. She sets goals and sticks to them. She has always wanted to run a marathon, so she did. Wanted to work in politics, so she is. Loves to travel, so she does. You get it.

14. Has a job working in her passion, politics. I am pretty sure that the Utah Senate will never be the same.

15. She is honest-especially when you need someone to be honest. Not in a rude way, but in a way that she cares about you so she will let you know what's up.

16. She ALWAYS looks good. Whether she has just woken up or is ready for a night on the town, she has a natural beauty that always shows through.

17. She is fun at a concert. There is no shame to dancing on your chair and I don't think I would ever go to Kelly without her:)

18. She does a great classic gymnastics pose that only a few select people outside of the family have had the opportunity to see.

19. Her love of The Godfather will never be rivaled. She even has a poster of the man himself watching over her while she sleeps. After all, everything in the world can be related to The Godfather.

20. She is faithful.

21. She has naturally straight, white teeth and never had to have braces for a great smile. No fair.

22. Is always up for spending couch time watching a Lifetime "suck-me-in" movie when needed.

23. Will unleash the wrath of Laura on anyone, anytime if needed and never at inappropriate moments.

24. She is very passionate about everything she does and makes me want to learn more about the things that are important to her just so I can keep up. I don't think I have ever been more interested in the upcoming Presidential elections than this year (don't worry, Mom, I have always voted).

25. She is a great friend and sister. Hope that you have a great day too-Love you sista:)

American Idol Mania

I have to say that I still cannot get enough of American Idol and it is almost over! I have known that it would all boil down to the Davids, and the whole state of Utah definitely has Archuleta fever! I am torn between the two but I think that I could definitely buy either album and be happy with it-they will both be recording no matter who wins. That said, guess who my pick is?